Connecticut Debt Collection Summons (2022 Guide)

Debt collectors are often aggressive and can be challenging to deal with. However, you may be able to get them to back off by responding to a lawsuit. This is good news for you as it can help relieve some of the stress of dealing with them.

A debt collection lawsuit can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Many people ignore the issue hoping it will disappear, but there are better courses of action than this. Ignoring a debt collection lawsuit can lead to even more debt and a lower credit score. It is essential to face the issue head-on and take steps to resolve it as soon as possible. 

This article provides an overview of what to expect when responding to a summons for a debt collection lawsuit within the state of Connecticut.

Answering a Debt Collection Summons in Connecticut

According to the laws of the state of Connecticut, you are given thirty days to respond to a lawsuit. This is thirty days from the date printed on the Summons you will receive.

Filing an answer to a debt collection lawsuit is not tricky, and it is worth doing instead of simply allowing the court to assume that the debt collector should win. By responding to the lawsuit, you give yourself a chance to explain your side of the story and potentially have the case dismissed.

In other words, the court will rule in favor of the debt collector, and you will be responsible for paying the total amount of the debt, plus any additional fees and interest. This can be costly, so it’s essential to understand your rights and options before you ignore a debt collection lawsuit.

It is better to answer a debt collection lawsuit rather than ignore it. Answering a suit is not tricky, and by doing so, you avoid automatically losing the case. Remember, you must respond within 30 days.

Answers to Connecticut Summons Forms

When responding to a debt collections lawsuit, you will need to submit two critical documents to the Connecticut court system. These are as follows:

1. An “Answer” and
2. An “Appearance.”

There are many online forms available that can make creating the necessary documents for a court case much more accessible. The Connecticut court system provides various conditions that can be used for many cases.

You must file both forms to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in Connecticut. Filing only one state may result in a default judgment against you. Connecticut’s court system, like all others, has particular requirements for what information must be included when responding to a complaint.

Answer Filing Fees for Connecticut

Good news – there is no filing fee when responding to a lawsuit in Connecticut.

How to Respond to a Debt Collection Case in Connecticut

A debt collector who sues you in court must send you two documents: a Summons and a Complaint. You’re probably already familiar with these documents if you’ve been sued.

A Summons is simply a way for a debt collector to notify you that you are being sued. This document lets you know that you are being taken to court and allows you to defend yourself.

In a Complaint, there is often a lot of legal jargon that can intimidate those unfamiliar with such terminology. However, it is essential to remember that this document states that you owe a certain amount of money and explains why this is so. With this in mind, try to avoid complex language being in your way of understanding what is being said.

When you receive a Summons and Complaint in the mail, it is essential to understand that the Summons is simply a notification of a lawsuit. At the same time, the Complaint contains all the facts that the plaintiff must prove to obtain a judgment against you. By being aware of this information, you can better defend yourself against any potential legal action.

When you are served with a lawsuit, you must take action. Failure to respond to the case will result in an automatic loss and a default judgment that says you owe the plaintiff the money they claim, plus additional fees and interest. Do not let this happen; take charge of your case and fight for what is rightfully yours.

You should respond to the lawsuit as soon as possible. You can react in two ways: filing a “Motion” or filing an “Answer.” In this context, it would be better to file an Answer, primarily if you represent yourself. Remember that you only have 30 days to file the Answer.

You must take four basic steps when responding to a debt collection complaint with an Answer.

1. Prepare an answer document
2. Respond to each complaint issue
3. Make affirmative defenses;
4. Serve The Plaintiff With The Answer

Don’t worry about feeling overwhelmed at this point. We’ll go through each step in detail, so it’s easy to understand.

1. Prepare an answer document

The first step to proving that you don’t owe a debt collector money is providing your contact information to the court. Then you can begin to explain in detail all of the reasons why the collector is wrong. Make sure you have a strong case by preparing your argument beforehand.

You’re in luck! Most, if not all, of what you need to write your Answer document can be found in Summons and Complaint. That includes:

• Your personal contact information. Your name, address, and (if applicable) your attorney’s name and address;
• The contact information for the plaintiff. The name of the attorney suing you, the company or other debtor suing you, and additional information.
• Information about the court. The name of the court in Connecticut where the lawsuit was filed, the court’s address, and other contact information.
• Case identifying information. Every case has a case number (sometimes called a docket number, civil number, or index number) and the debt amount at issue, among other vital pieces of information.

The amount of information required by the court might seem excessive, but it is necessary to move your case forward. The information needed can be found in the Summon and Complaint gave to you by the plaintiff.

2. Respond to each complaint issue

The next step after creating your AnswerAnswer and including all relevant case information is to state whether the facts in the Complaint are true or false. The response is called an “Answer” because you effectively answer everything in the Complaint.

It is important to remember that you can write a short narrative to respond to a Complaint. You can tell the court whether you “Agree” or “Disagree” with each numbered paragraph of the Complaint. Or, if you do not know enough to agree or disagree, you can answer with “Do Not Know.

As you deal with debt collectors, be aware that they may use tactics to deceive you. They might include both accurate and inaccurate information in a single paragraph, making it difficult to determine what is true and what is not. In these cases, it is best to say “disagree” for any false information section.

3. Make affirmative defenses

The plaintiff has had their opportunity to state their case, and now it is time for you to give your side of the story. In other words, you can now assert your “affirmative defenses,” explaining to the court why you do not owe the money the plaintiff says you do.

Understandably, you should give a long explanation of your circumstances surrounding the debt. However, it is essential to remember that “brevity is bliss.” Therefore, try to keep your AnswerAnswer concise and straightforward. Here are some common affirmative defenses that can be included in your AnswerAnswer when appropriate:

• The debt is connected to an account that is not yours.
• You do not owe the debt because the associated contract has already been terminated or canceled.
• The plaintiff waited too long to sue, so the “statute of limitations” has already run out. (For more information about the statute of limitations, see below).
• You already paid off the debt.
• The creditor has excused you of the debt.
• You have paid part of the debt.
• You are liable for the debt as a co-signer on a contract, but you were not informed of your rights as a co-signer.
• The Complaint needs paperwork because it does not include the actual contract (such as the initial credit card agreement) on which the debt is based.

Debtors can use a few different affirmative defenses, but the most common ones are listed above. Please note that being unable to pay a debt cannot be used as an affirmative defense.

4. Serve the plaintiff with the Answer

It’s almost time to mail in your AnswerAnswer. Here are a few easy steps to ensure it gets filed and served correctly in Connecticut (and the Appearance document, since Connecticut, also requires that).

• Step 1 – Make two copies of the Answer paperwork.
• Step 2 – Send the original (the one you signed) to the court.
• Step 3 – Mail a copy to the plaintiff’s attorney.
• Step 4 – Keep the second copy for your records.

The addresses for the plaintiff’s attorney and the court can be found on the Summons and Complaint you received in the mail. Ensure to include the address for the plaintiff’s attorney when you file your paperwork with the court.

Connecticut Limitations on Debt

A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit on how long a creditor can sue to collect the debt after a debt is incurred. Connecticut’s statute of limitations for credit card debt and other written contracts is six years. This means that creditors have six years from the date of the last payment on the debt to file a lawsuit. After six years, creditors lose the ability to collect the debt.

Legal Aid Organizations in Connecticut

Don’t let a debt collection lawsuit get you down – legal help is available! Get in touch with the following organization for assistance:

Connecticut Legal Aid

• 62 Washington Street, 4th Floor
• Middletown, Connecticut 06457
• Phone (860) 344-0447
• Fax (860) 346-2938

Connecticut Legal Services

• 1290 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 3A,
• Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109

Even though you might owe a debt, you cannot be harassed by debt collectors in Connecticut. According to state law, all creditors – big or small businesses – must follow certain fair debt collection practices. You can take action against a collector that violates your rights by speaking to an attorney about adding a counterclaim to your response to a lawsuit.

What you need to know

By following these five steps, responding to a debt collection lawsuit in Connecticut will be much easier. Keep in mind these takeaways, and the process will go smoothly: 

1. You have 30 days to respond to a debt collection lawsuit, so take your time.
2. Remember to also file the Appearance form along with your AnswerAnswer.
3. With your AnswerAnswer, make sure that you:

• Respond to each numbered paragraph in the Complaint;
• List all of your affirmative defenses; and
• Don’t forget to file the original with the court, send a copy to the plaintiff, and keep a copy for your records.

Good Luck!